Shampooer



United States Patent O Int. Cl. A47l 11/34 U.S. Cl. 401-22 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A shampooer having a surface treating head which receives a bottle of detergent. A release member has projections thereon which are normally biased against the reduced neck of the bottle and are latched in holding position. A lock arm is pivotally movable into position beneath the bar forming the actuating portion of the release member to lock the latter in position.

This invention relates to a shampooer, and more particularly to a shampooer for use in applying liquid detergent to small areas of upholstery and the like for cleaning purposes.

The invention contemplates an applicator head which is attachable to a container of detergent. Means are provided to removably secure the container within the head, and additional means are utilized to lock the container in secured position.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a shampooer constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a central vertical section of the shampooer;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; `and FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

As shown in the drawing, the shampooer comprises generally an applicator head 1 having a surface treating portion 2 and a container receiving portion 3. Portion 3 comprises a hollow chamber 4 which is adapted to frictionally receive the neck end of a detergent container 5. The wall contours of chamber 4 and container 5 should be generally similar so that the latter will fit relative tightly into the former, as by a press lit. Container 5 is preferably made of flexible plastic material, such as polyethylene, designed to hold a quantity of suitable liquid cleaning detergent.

The surf-ace treating portion 2 of head 1 includes a generally rectangular sponge 6 for receiving and foaming the detergent, and is surrounded by brush bristles 7 which coact with the sponge to work the detergent into the surface to be shampooed.

When container 5 is sealably mounted in head 1, as shown in FIG. 2, and the shampooer inverted, detergent will ow from the container, through Ia passageway indicated generally at y8, and onto sponge 6.

In accordance with the invention, securement means are provided to receive and hold container 5 in place within head portion 3. For this purpose, one end of container 5 is provided with an annular spout or neck portion comprising Ia tapered end portion 9 which is joined to the container by a neck 10 which is reduced in diameter from the enlarged inner end of portion 9 to form a shoulder 11. The outer end 12 of the container adjacent neck 10 forms a stop surface for purposes to be described.

A11 annular central cup-like socket 13 is disposed in the inner end of chamber 4 and may be secured in head 1`as by a press fit or the like. Socket 13 is adapted to receive 3,458,263 Patented July 29, 1969 the container spout therewithin, as shown in FIG. 2, and is provided with a suitable washer 14 for sealing the spout end so that detergent can only flow through pass- -ageway 8.

To hold container 5 in place, a generally U-shaped release member 15 is provided, with member 15 having a generally at outer bar 16 with a pair of end legs 17. Bar 16 is disposed adjacent the outside wall of head 1, and legs 17 extend through suitable openings 18 in the head wall. The inner ends of legs 17 are provided with enlarged projections 19 which are adapted to extend through opposed openings 20 in socket 13 and hence into the socket chamber. Release member 15 is suitably biased, as by a spring 21, to the holding position shown in full lines in FIG. 3.

When a container 5 is inserted into head 1, tapered end 9 will push projections 19 outwardly until neck 10 is reached. Then the projections will snap back inwardly into the groove between shoulder 11 and container end 12. The side faces 22 of projections 19 are at to provide stop surfaces which coact with shoulder 11 and end 12 to hold the container in position.

The inner faces 23 of projections 19 are formed with cam surfaces, and release bar 16 is normally disposed in outwardly spaced relation from the head wall. When it is desired to release container 5, bar 16 is pressed downwardly against the head wall. This causes cam faces 23 to ride outwardly along the edges of opening 20 to remove projections 19 from the socket. The container may then be pulled from head 1. See dash lines in FIG. 3.

To insure that release member 15 remains in latched container holding position during use of the shampooer, locking means are provided therefore to prevent bar 16 from moving toward the wall of head 1 with the resultant outward camming action of projections 19. Por this purpose, a lock arm 24 is mounted as by a pin 25 for pivotal movement on head 1. Arm 24 is shown as being elongated and generally at, with tboth end portions 26 having a thickness approximately equal to the distance between release bar 16 and the head wall. As shown in FIGURE 1, arm 24 may be positioned so that neither end 26 is beneath bar 16, so that the latter is free for unlatching action. Or, arm 24 may be pivoted so that one of the ends 26 is beneath bar 16 to lock the device. (See FIG. 2.)

The invention provides la novel shampooer which both latches and locks a detergent container in place.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded .as the invention.

I claim:

1. In a shampooer for use with a container of detergent wherein the container has a latch receiving portion thereon:

(a) a head,

b) a socket in said head for receiving the said container,

(c) a release member having a bar spaced from said head and having legs extending into said socket from the ends of said bar and into latching position for holding cooperation with a said container,

(d) the construction being such that pressing of said bar toward said head will release said legs from said lathing position,

(e) and lock means selectively movable into the space between bar and said head to lock the release member and maintain said legs in said latching position.

2. The shampooer of claim 1 in which said lock means comprises:

(a) an arm pivotally mounted on said head adjacent said bar,

(b) said arm having at least one end portion of a thickness approximately the space between said bar and said head,

(c) said end portion being pivotable into said space to prevent said bar from moving toward said head.

3. In a shampooer for use with a container of detergent wherein the container is provided with a tapered spout and reduced neck portion having enlarged stop surfaces on each side, the combination comprising:

(a) a head,

(b) a socket in said head for receiving the said container and with said socket having opposed openings therein,

(c) a release member having a bar normally spaced from said head and having legs extending through said head,

(d) the inner end of each said leg having a projection thereon which provides an inner cam surface and at side surfaces,

(e) means biasing said legs so that said projections normally extend through the walls of said socket,

(f) the construction being such that insertion of said tapered spout into said socket will cause said projections to move outwardly and then snap into latching position in said reduced neck portion,

(g) pressing on said bar causing said cams to ride upon the edges of said openings to unlatched position,

(h) and lock means selectively movable into the space to prevent said bar from moving toward said head.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 568,286 9/1896 waterman 21S- 89 X 671,086 4/1901 Larbi@ 215-98 1,149,506 8/1915 Dun 222-498 2,686,652 8/1954 Carlson et a1. 222.402.119( o 2,932,840 4/1960 Lathrop 401-22 FOREIGN PATENTS `677,132 6/1939 Germany.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner 25 H. S. SKOGQUIST, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 21S- 90; 222-567 

